2015 Cadillac ATS: common problems and reliability
An average ATS year.
29 owner complaints, most about steering. 4 recalls.
Should I buy a 2015 ATS?The 2015 Cadillac ATS has 29 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 4 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are steering and electrical system. Owners most often flag 2.0l turbo (ltg) engine failures: catastrophic piston and piston ring failures, often around 50,000-100,000 miles (80,000-160,000 km), leading to misfires and requiring engine replacement. linked to carbon buildup and potential bad piston castings in 2013-2015 models.
Safety record for the 2015 model year
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2015 Cadillac ATS vehicles (US, public record).
The Year Score compares this year with other ATS years only. How we score it
Is 2015 a good year for the ATS?
Across the 7 ATS model years we track, complaint volume runs from 3 (2019) to 160 (2013). With 29 complaints, the 2015 ATS sits about the same as the model's median of 33.
These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.
Where owners report problems
Recalls affecting the 2015 ATS
visibility:sun/moon roof assembly
Campaign 15V463000General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Cadillac ATS vehicles manufactured April 25, 2012, to June 25, 2015. The affected vehicles may experience the roof panel closing automatically when the non-recessed switches are pressed and the roof panel is open. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 118, "Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel Systems."
service brakes, hydraulic:pedals and linkages
Campaign 15V358000General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Cadillac ATS and CTS vehicles. The affected vehicles have a bracket between the brake pedal assembly and the rod that actuates the brakes that may fracture during normal brake pedal operation.
visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac system
Campaign 15V558000General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Cadillac ATS sedan vehicles manufactured April 23, 2012, to September 2, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the coil antenna module that powers the rear defogger system may generate excessive heat due to excessive cycling or continuous operation.
air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Campaign 26V329000General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, XTS, 2015-2016 Cadillac ATS, CTS, and SRX vehicles. The front-driver air bag inflator may rupture during deployment.
What owners say across generations
Mixed sentiment with a clear divide between driving dynamics and reliability.
- Very frequent2.0L Turbo (LTG) engine failures
Catastrophic piston and piston ring failures, often around 50,000-100,000 miles (80,000-160,000 km), leading to misfires and requiring engine replacement. Linked to carbon buildup and potential bad piston castings in 2013-2015 models.
Owner insights cover all generations of the ATS. See the full ATS owner picture and every model year.
Typical used price
Used ATS listings typically run $10,180–$15,998 across 2013 to 2019 model years.
Other ATS model years
Compare every ATS year side by side to see how 2015 ranks against the rest.
Compare the ATS against its rivals
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